Wire-stretcher.



No. 860,74?.I

` PATENTED JULY 23, 190'7.

o. GREGORY. WIRE STRRTGRRR.

APPLIOATIDN FILED JAN. 19. 1907.

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. THE Narmls Perales co., wAsnmarcN, D. c.

CLARENCE GREGORY, OF WASHINGTON, INDIANA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed January 19, 1907. Serial No. 353,090.

To all whomt't may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the county of Daviess and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers and consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple and practical device of this character which may be readily operated by one man for stretching wire fences of all kinds and for similar purposes. I

` The above and other objects are accomplished by the improved construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved wire stretcher showing the same in use for stretching wire fences; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section.

My improved wire stretcher comprises a frame l preferably cast of metal and in the form of the letter l), as clearly shown in Fig. 2. For the purpose of lightening the frame its opposite sides are cast with depressions or channelsas indicated. The parallel arms or branches 2 of the frame are extended beyond its straight cross bar 3, and in the latter and the curved end or portion 4 of the frame are formed longitudinally alined openings 5, G, in which a screw 7 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted, the screw being prevented `from rotating by an integral key or tongue 8 formed in the opening 6 and projecting into a longitudinal groove 9 formed in the screw. The screw is preferably provided with comparatively coarse square threads and its outer end is apertured to receive a ring or eye 10 for the reception of an anchoring chain 11. The latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is passed around a fence post P and has one of its ends permanently attached to the ring 10 and its other end detachably engaged with said ring by means of a hook 12. The frame 1 is caused to travel upon the screw 7 through the instrumentality of a rotary head 13 in the form of a beveled pinion or gear, the hub 14 of which is internally threaded to receive the screw, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The pinion 13 is confined between the curved end 4 of the frame and in the beveled pinion or gear 15 with which it meshes and which is secined upon the inner end of a transverse shaft 16 journaled in bearings in one of the sides or portions 2 of the frame and in an integral brace 17 which unites the parts 3, 4 of the frame. A removable crank handle 18 is provided upon the outer end of the shaft 16 so that the pinion 15 may be rotated for the purpose of rotating the head or nut 13. n The projecting endsvof the portions 2 of the frame are tapered and apertured to receive rings or loops 19 to which are connected chains 20. The latter have their opposite ends connected to one end of a twisted link 2l having loops at its opposite end arranged in planes at right angles to each other. To the opposite end or loop of the link 21 are connected the ends of two chains 22 adapted to be adjustably connected to the ripper and lower ends of a vertically disposed clamp 23 connected to the wire fencing fabric F. The clamp 23 may be of any suitable form but as shown, it consists of two parallel bars adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the wire fence to be stretched and having at their upper and lower ends alining transverse apertures 24 for the reception of loops or bails 25. The adjustable connections between the chains 22 and'the clamps are effected by passing said chains through the loops or bails 25 and engaging the hooks 26 upon their ends with any of the links of said chains 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

When the device is to be used for stretching wire fencing fabric as shown in the drawings, the screw 7 has its outer end anchored to a fence post or other support by means of the chain 11 and the clamp 23 is adjustably s'ecured to the wire fence to be stretched. The chains 22 are then passed through the bails 25 and fastened as shown in Fig. 1. The crank handle 18 is then rotated in the proper direction to turn the nut or head formed by the pinion 13 and its hub 14, whereupon the frame 1 will be caused to travel upon the screw 7 in the direction of its anchored end and thereby stretch the wire fence. When a single wire is to be stretched it may be connected to the link 21 in any suitable manner.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wire stretcher comprising a screw having a longitudinal groove, means at one end of said screw for anchoring it against endwise and rotary movement, a frame having an opening to receive said screw, a key in said opening in the frame to enter said groove in the screw, a nut carried by the frame and mounted to travel on the screw, means for rotating said nut, and means for attaching the element to be stretched to said frame. i

2. A wire stretcherA comprising a screw formed with a longitudinal groove, a substantially D-shaped frame having alining apertures in its curved and straight connecting,r portions for the reception of said screw, a key in one of said-openings to enter the groove in said screw, a nut carried by the frame and mounted to travel upon the screw and means for rotating said nut.

3. A wire stretcher comprising a screw formed with a longitudinal groove, :1 substantially D-shaped frame having alining apertures in its curved and straight connecting poi-tions for the reception of said screw, a key in one of said openings to enter the groove in said screw, a nut carried by the frame and mounted to travel upon the screw, means for rotating said nut, means for anchoring one end of said screw, a link, connections between one end of said link and the parallel portions or ends of said '.D-shaped frame, a clamp, bails carried by the latter, chains attached to said link and passed through said mesh with the first mentioned pinion, means for anchoring one end of said screw and means connected to the parallel portions of the frame for connecting the latter to the element to be stretched.

In testimony whereof I hereunto athx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE GREGORY.

Witnesses:

Josmrr G. ALLEN, 1 Bassin ALLEN. 

